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El Nido sits at the northern tip of mainland Palawan, on Bacuit Bay, and is the way into the Bacuit archipelago of limestone islands, white-sand beaches and coral reefs. Its marble and limestone cliffs are nesting grounds for swiftlets, whose edible nests gave the town its name.

Municipality of 18 barangays, 923.26 km² of land.

Photo: Alejandro Luengo, via Unsplash, Unsplash License. Footage: Mark Jefferson Gabileo, via Pexels

El Nido sits at the northern tip of mainland Palawan, on Bacuit Bay, and is the way into the Bacuit archipelago of limestone islands, white-sand beaches and coral reefs. Its marble and limestone cliffs are nesting grounds for swiftlets, whose edible nests gave the town its name.

The town and parts of neighbouring Taytay form the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, declared in 1998 and covering about 903 km², some 40 percent land and 60 percent sea. Island trips leave from the town's beaches and the Philippine Ports Authority port at Buena Suerte.

Around El Nido

El Nido, formerly Bacuit, is named after the edible swiftlet nests in its limestone cliffs, the main ingredient of nido soup.

  • Island

    Cadlao Island

    An island in El Nido that holds the municipality's highest peak.

  • Heritage

    Ille Cave

    An archaeological site in a karst tower at New Ibajay, in Dewil Valley; excavations since 1998 have recovered human burials and thousands of artifacts.

  • Beach

    Entalula Beach

    A beach in El Nido backed by limestone cliffs and reached only by boat; first on the World's 50 Best Beaches list for 2026, second in 2025.

  • Nature

    Small Lagoon

    A lagoon in El Nido where, in 2018, the El Nido-Taytay protected-area management board limited visits to 30 guests at a time and 15 kayaks.

  • Island

    Miniloc Island

    An island in El Nido's Bacuit Bay, home to Miniloc, the first resort opened by El Nido Resorts.

A short history

  1. People have lived around Bacuit Bay since at least 2800 BC, and finds in the Dewil Valley may be some 14,000 years old. The town grew from Talindak, a Tagbanua village, and the Tagbanua of the area still keep much of their culture.

  2. The Spanish called the place Bacuit. In 1954 Republic Act No. 1140 renamed it El Nido, after the swiftlet nests in its cliffs. Coconut, rice, cashew, banana and mango are its main farm products.

The way in

  1. Manila

    From Manila: Fly to El Nido Airport, about 4 km from town, where routes are run by Cebu Pacific's regional arm Cebgo since it took over AirSWIFT's flights in July 2026; or fly to Puerto Princesa and continue by road. From Coron, fast ferries take about 3.5 hours.

  2. Puerto Princesa

    From Puerto Princesa: Vans leave from Puerto Princesa airport and the San Jose terminal; the ride north takes about 6 to 7 hours.

  3. El Nido

    Nearest gateway. El Nido Airport (Lio), Barangay Villa Libertad, about 4 km from town; Puerto Princesa International Airport by road

Places in El Nido

  • Outrigger boat anchored in the turquoise water of Big Lagoon, enclosed by tall green limestone cliffs on Miniloc Island11°09′N 119°19′EBig LagoonLagoons and lakes

    How to get there. By island-hopping boat (El Nido Tour A) from El Nido town to Miniloc Island, then by kayak through a shallow channel into the lagoon

    Best time. December to May, during the dry season and calmer seas

    Photo: Marciano Villavito, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

  • Nacpan Beach from the air: a long curve of pale sand and coconut palms beside turquoise water, El Nido11°19′N 119°26′ENacpan BeachBeaches

    How to get there. By tricycle, van or motorbike from El Nido town, about 17 km and 45 minutes on a paved and partly unpaved road to Barangay Bucana

    Best time. November to May, dry season

    Photo: Rafael Loreto, via Unsplash, Unsplash License

Fees, rules and schedules change. Check them with the town.

Official website
Municipality of El NidoChecked 21 Oct 2026
Local government
Municipality of El NidoPSGC 1705312000
Sources
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